Grand Lodge.

GRAND LODGE .

LONDON , SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 10 , 1864 .

Tlie meeting of Grand Lodge on Wednesday was one of the thinnest we have ever seen ; and , but for a discussion relative to the future of the Freemasons' Tavern , would have been altogether devoid of interest . The Grand Master was absent , and

so also was the Deputy Grand Master , the chair ' being occupied by Bro . Bagshaw , the Provincial Grand Master for Esses—the only Provincial Grand Master present . Why Provincial Grand Masters should take the chair in the absence of

its rightful occupants we cannot tell , there being no warrant for such a proceeding in the " Book of Oonstitlltions . •'• According to that book the duty should devolve on the Grand Wardens or Past Grand Wardens ; and we are astonished that

brethren of the Masonic standing and position of Bro . Dundas , Bro . Colonel Brownrigg , or Bro . Havers can consent to set aside their ri ghts in favour of Provincial Grand Masters , who hold no position in Grand Lodge beyond that which is

accorded them by courtesy . The Senior Grand Warden was absent . The Junior Warden , we regret to say , has been called from amongst ns to that home to which we must all ultimately repair .

On the reading of the minutes , Bro . George asked the questions to which we referred last week , and was well replied to by Bro . Havers , who stated that the Committee had not granted a

lease to the present tenants , having no power to do so until the minutes of the last Grand Lodge were confirmed , but that they had given them a provisional agreement for a lease , subject to that confirmation . The Committee had not given the

tenants power to form a Joint-Stock Company , but it had no objection to their doing so , and believed that the Tavern could be better managed by such a Company than under private enterprise . The Committee had not placed any restriction on the

lessees as to the parties they should bring into the Company as partners being all Masons ; ancl he ( Bro . Havers ) thought it was rather matter of congratulation that those outside the pale of Masonry were willing to take part in the

undertaking , though personally he should prefer seeing it solel y in the hands of Masons , if they only took one share each . Bro . Havers also stated the terms upon which the . lease was to be granted , viz ., a premium of £ 5 , 000 , and a rent commencing a

£ 1 , 200 a year , gradually advancing to £ 1 , 800 ,. at which it is to remain until the expiry of the lease , which is to be granted for twenty-one years . A sharp and rather sprightly discussion followed the statement of Bro . Havers , in the course of

which it was stated that of the 6 , 500 shares intowhich the capital is to be divided , 4 , 800 had been taken up , exclusive of those which may be required , by the directors and their friends , and of that number 4 , 200 had been paid upon . Of the total

applied for , 672 were taken by Masons , and the rest by the public . That enough has already been subscribed for to secure the carrying out of the Company will therefore be seen , and the other shares may be placed as opportunity offers . Bro . George spoke of the large margin existing between

the amount to be given for the lease , ancl the amount of capital , but he should remember in , all Joint-Stock undertakings more should be nominally raised than it is ever proposed to call up , for that Company would be in a sorry plight which

called up all its capital and left no portion fructifying in the pockets of the shareholders to meet unforeseen contingencies , and it would find that if in no other respect , at least in credit and prestige it would be "limited . " Ultimately , the ,

minutes were confirmed with one dissentient , Bro .. George , who was faithful to the last . The lease may , therefore , be considered as granted , ancl those brothers who wish to do so may yet have shares , as the allotment will not take place for ten days . or a fortnight .

Then came the consideration of the reports of the Colonial Board , ancl another discussion arose resulting in that portion relative to the Grand Lodge of Canada , and the recognition of the St . George ' s Lodge , English Constitution , being referred back

to the Board for further consideration , in consequence of the receipt of later advices from Canada , recognising the report , and rendering it altogether nugatory . The discussion was chiefly interestingthrough the nice legal distinctions drawn by the

Grand Eegistrar as to how one portion of the report could be acted upon without the other , and which were about as lucid as the distinction to be drawn " 'twixfc tweedledum and tweedledee . " After some unnecessary badgering , however , Bro .

Havers came to the rescue . Bro . M'Intyre agreed with Bro . Havers , and everybody agreeing with both and everybody , the matter was settled . At next Grand Lodge we presume a vote of thanks will be given to Bro . Brackstone Baker for